Bargen, Isaac I. (1857-1943)

Isaac I. Bargen: teacher and civic leader; born 29 November 1857 in Fischau, Molotschna Mennonite Settlement in South Russia. He was the son of Isaac H. Bergen (19 January 1820, Fischau, Molotschna, South Russia - 12 December 1874, Alexanderwohl, Molotschna, South Russia) and Justina Loewen (1 March 1826, Tiegenhagen, Molotschna, South Russia - 11 January 1905, Mountain Lake, Minnesota, USA). He was the second oldest of four boys. After his father's death, his mother married Gerhard Neufeld (1827-1916), a widower with seven children. Isaac married Sara Hiebert (8 November 1861, Berdyansk, South Russia - 2 June 1934), daughter of David Hiebert )1837-1895) and Sara (Penner) Hiebert (1839-1921) on 28 December 1886 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Isaac and Sara had 10 children: Justina, David, Sara, Emma, Maria, William, Walter, Gerhard, Bernhard, and Rosella. Isaac died on 25 August 1943 in Mountain Lake, where he was buried.

Isaac attended the Zentralschule at Gnadenfeld and Orloff. He was baptized on 11 June 1878 in Margenau, Molotschna. The next month, Isaac came to America with his mother and step-father, settling on a farm east of Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Isaac's parents were leaders in the Mountain Lake settlement. His mother Justina practiced medicine and his step-father, Gerhard, was the elder of First Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake. In America Isaac studied four years at Mankato Teachers' College.

Bargen was a charter member of First Mennonite Church of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, founder of the Sunday school in his home community, 40 years a Sunday-school teacher, and chairman of church council for eight years. For one year he taught German in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was a leader in civic affairs, public speaker, superintendent of county schools, 1893-1901; principal of Mountain Lake grade school, 1893-1903; editor and publisher of Mountain Lake View and Unser Besucher, 1901-1914; postmaster of Mountain Lake, 1902-1933; founder of Mennonite Aid Society, 1897; president of this organization until 1925; and then secretary until his death in 1943.